It’s hard not to wonder if, after so many years of bland results, Adam Scott has become a Masters monster.

Earlier this week, Phil Mickelson talked about how his breakthrough win in 2004 was such a liberating experience that he quickly added two more Masters titles, a PGA Championship title and a British Open title to his resume.

On Thursday, Scott, who won the Masters last year and has spent this week on cloud nine, accepting standing ovations from fans, hosting the champions’ dinner and generally being the most popular man at the most prestigious golf tournament on the planet, once again stalked the fairways of Augusta National, churning out a round of three-under-par 69 that could easily have been two or three shots better than that.

“I’m very pleased to get off to a good start,” said Scott, “and there’s no doubt winning the Masters last year had me a little more comfortable on the first tee than I’ve ever been in the past, because I didn’t have the legs shaking and nerves jangling for six or seven holes like usual.